Over 40 countries seek to ban social media for youth – does it work?

Sweden is poised to join a growing international movement attempting to regulate social media use among young people. The government is considering a proposal for a 15-year-old age limit for accessing social media platforms, a move that aligns with similar efforts in over 40 countries worldwide.

This initiative stems from mounting concerns about the negative effects of excessive screen time on children and adolescents. Politicians cite research linking social media use to deteriorating mental health, alongside risks of cyberbullying and online harassment. Social minister Jakob Forssmed expressed concern that "we are losing a whole generation to endless scrolling."

Australia was the first country to implement a nationwide age restriction, introducing a 16-year-old limit last December. While initially met with hope from parents, the results have been mixed. According to the eSafety Commissioner, approximately 4.7 million accounts were deactivated immediately after the ban, but seven out of ten users managed to create new accounts within six months.

Young users have demonstrated considerable ingenuity in bypassing the restrictions. Methods include using altered profile pictures to fool facial recognition tools, having older siblings verify accounts, inventing birth years, or using parents' accounts. These workarounds highlight the challenges in enforcing such age limits effectively and suggest that technological and social adaptations by young users can undermine regulatory intentions.